In a first for the British edition of Vogue, the magazine is devoting its front cover to honouring key workers who have been working tirelessly during the coronavirus pandemic.
Gracing the front cover of Vogue‘s July issue is Anisa Omar, 21 who works as a supermarket assistant at Waitrose in King’s Cross.
Normally serving customers on the checkouts or replenishing the shelves with much needed essentials, Omar was photographed in her uniform during a regular shift.
She described the whole experience as “crazy – but so nice to be appreciated in this way. It’s nice being a key worker”.
“My job was not something that was that big of a deal before,” she added.
“But now it’s like we’re important. We have to be here, regardless of what’s happening in the world. It’s more than just a job now.
“Being on the cover of Vogue is not something I ever imagined I would do, but I feel so lucky to be a part of this experience.
“I live in a house of key workers – both my brother and sister work in different Waitrose branches so we will be excited to see the magazine on sale in our shops when we arrive at work.”
Omar is one of three frontline workers to appear on a special cover, with the others being London Overground train driver Narguis Horsford and midwife Rachel Millar.
They will each take a turn on the front and inside the gatefold of the other copies of Vogue.
The decision to use non-celebrities for the cover was taken by British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful.
“This moment in history has seen society shift its attention on to some of the people who are not usually afforded the spotlight,” he said.
Photographer Jamie Hawkesworth spent two weeks photographing frontline workers for the historic edition, which also includes portraits of NHS staff, delivery drivers, teachers and MPs across 20 pages.
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